Marsh vehicle



March 27, 1951 F. F. REYNOLDS 2,546,523

MARSH VEHICLE Filed Aug. 20, 1947 a a a u n n n 3 wwe/nio@ F Fv REYNOLDS.

Fig. 2

Patented Mar. 27, 1951 Frank F. Reynolds, Houston, Tex.

Application August 20, 1947, Serial No. 769,732'

2 Claims.

l This invention relates to an improved amphibious craft for transporting personnel and equipment, such as exploration crews with seismographic instruments, to locations in swampy,

inundated, or partially inundated terrain, and which craft can also serve with utility on snow' covered terrain, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an amphibious craft which can transport crew and cargo loads into and over swampy, inundated, or*

partially inundated areas whichV may contain low-lying logs, hummocks, and other obstacles, and which craft can also serve with utility on snow covered terrain, and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an amphibious craft capable of readily trans porting crew and cargo loads over inundated, or partially inundated areas which may contain lowlying. logs, hummocks, and other obstacles by providing said craft with a. hull construction con-A sisting of transversely separated, parallel pontoon the craft traversed by the inter-space between.

pontoon sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a highly maneuverable amphibious craft of this kind provided with propelling and traction mechanisms permitting operation of the traction element of one of the pontoons while the traction element of the other pontoon remains idle.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a high load capacity amphibious craft of this kind capable of utilizing the full buoyant capacity of both pontoon sections, so that the craft can readily progress when heavily laden and submerged to a relatively low freeboard, y

It is a further object of this invention to provide an amphibious craft of this kind wth traction elements which are equal to, or of greater transverse width than the transverse width of the pontoon sections which are encompassed by said traction elements, so that the traction elements transversely overhang above the pontoon sections on each side, and transversely under-lay below the pontoon sections on each side, thereby shielding the pontoon sections from retarding engagement with obstacles in the path of said craft.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an amphibious craft of this kind capable of traversing hummocks and other terrain features through providing pontoons with upwardly extended or sloped end sections at bow and stern of such configuration as to permit the Caterpillar 'or traction elements mounted on and encompassing said pontoon sections to enga'ge in and to pass over slopes and obstacles 'in the terrain. y

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following descrip- 4tion is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, particularly showing the pontoon configuration, the traction elements, and the component structural features of a craft embodying the invention.

Fig. 2l is a plan of the bow of such craft, illustrating the over-hang of traction elements over pontoon sections. Y

Fig. 3 is a rear-'end ing the relative transverse pontoon and intrspace distances', and also showing cross-connec- 'tion members, and the vertical clearance below said members.

In the drawings, pontoons Ill, having upwardly sloped or tapered ends or nose'sections I4, at bows and sterns, are shown rigidly cross-connected Aat their bows by means of an I-beam or other structural shape II, which is/ firmly fixed to and in' transverse alignment across the tops of each pontoon. These pontoons are also cross-connected at their after ends by means of shaft I2 which is journalled in pillow-blocks I3 which are rigidly mounted in alignment on each pontoon or hull section I0. By means of this construction there is provided a structure which possess desirable iiexibility that the craft may readily pass over terrain having surface irregularities.

An operating` and load carrying platform I5 is rigidly mounted at the forward end on I-beam II, and at the after end on shaft I2. This platform has mounted thereon driving and steering mechanisms consisting of a hooded motor I6, gear box or transmission I1, a steering lever I8, and a differential I9, which hasy mounted in alignment on either end thereof the drive sprockets, 2 Il.

On top of the after end of, each pontoon I0 there is mounted a bearing member 2I which has mounted therein a driven shaft 22. These shafts 22 have rigidly mounted on the inboard ends thereof the driven sprockets 23, which are in longitudinalalignment with the drive sprockets 2U on either end of the differential I9. Sprocket chains 24 serve to drivingly connect the drive sprockets 20 with the driven sprockets 23. Each driven shaft 22 has mounted thereon, at points adjacent to either pontoon side wall, chain belt driving sprockets 25.

View, particularly illustratl The traction element for each pontoon I consists of an endless chain belt formed by two endless chains 26 which longitudinally encompass the pontoon near each side wall thereof. These endless chains 26 are joined together transversely by channels or slats 21, which are preferably spaced one chain link apart, and which are rigidly xed on either side of the pontoon to transverselyfaligned, alternate chain links, These channels or slats 21 are of such length as to at least overlay and underlay the pontoon in transverse dimensions, so that any obstacle or obstruc tion in the path of the pontoon Will be engaged by the slats or channels of the traction element, and consequently such obstacles cannot contact the body of the pontoons .proper. Aptake-up sprocket 28 is mounted on either side o'f the forward end of each pontoon, and track structures' 29" are rigidly mounted or'ftop of, andon each side of, eachpontoon.- Y The tractionelements orA endlessl chain belts of each pontoon I0 encompass each'pontoon-by following the path formed by theV driven sprockets 23, the track structures 29, the take-up sprocketV 28, the forward nose sec- .tion I4, the under side of the pontoon, and the .af-ter nose section is. The trac-tion elements are maintained at properly adjusted tension, so as to be constantly held at proper working contact against the pontoonv bottoms and nose sections,

by adjustingthe-take-up sprocket 28 in a forward or backward direction, asY may be required.

While a specific construction has/been shown and-described, itis tobe understoodY that such construction is merely illustrativel ofY the invention and that the invention is not confined there- Broadly the invention contemplates ahighly -maneuverable amphibious craft of aplatform area and carrying capacity whichY will permit -the transportation of personnel and equipment over marshy, inundated,l or partially inundated areaswhich may contain low-lying obstacles.

vsloped hummocks, and other terrain features,y

What is claimed is: l. An amphibious craft corlflprising,l a pair of .additional sprockets, and means for selectively drivingsaid sprocket and chain connections so that thecraft is propelled and steered and may pass to and from water covered and land areas.

2.,'An amphibious craft comprising, a pair of spaced elongated pontoons, a beam interconnecting the forward ends of said pontoons, pillow blocks mounted on lthe rear-ward ends of said pontoons in alignment transversely thereof, a shaftpivotally'mounted in said pillow blocks yarid interconnecting the rearward ends of the pontoons; a platform mounted on said beam' and shaft, an endless belt passing movably about each of said pontoons,` a prime mover on said platform, and means for selectively driving said'e'ndless belt from said prime mover' so that the craft is propelled and steered and may pass to and from water covered and landfareas;

` FRANK F. REYNOLDS.

REFERENCES CITED- ,The following references are of record in4 the file' of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date" 1,161,267 Taylor'V Nov. 23, 1915 1,366,413 Olin Jan. 25, 17921 2,138,207 Roebling Nov. 29, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,555 Sweden Mar. 21, 1910 

